Spanish Conversation · Level 42
75 words
Spanish word
estrechar
Pronunciation
IPA/estɾeˈtʃaɾ/
Meaning
- verbnarrow
Example
Después del puente, la calle se estrechó.
After the bridge, the street narrowed.
More examples
Las medidas sociales buscan estrechar la brecha generacional.
Social measures aim to narrow the generational gap.
Core concept
A corridor narrowing between its walls.
Common phrases
estrechar la brecha
narrow the gap
estrechar las diferencias
reduce the differences
estrechar la distancia
narrow the distance
Similar words
acercar: Brings people or objects closer together in physical position.
apretar: Presses or squeezes to reduce gaps or make something narrower.
achicar: Reduces the overall size of an object or an empty space.
Definition in Spanish
Hacer que algo tenga menos anchura o espacio; también reducir la distancia entre personas o cosas, tanto en sentido físico como figurado.
Word origin
From Latin stringere 'to draw tight', Spanish estrechar acquires the literal sense of making something less wide and the figurative sense of reducing distance between people or things.
Usage tips
- With se it often marks the intransitive 'become narrow', while transitively it means to make something narrow or to bring people closer, as in estrechar lazos.